Sugarcane Varieties GT 42 and GT 44, not a Flash in the Pan, but the Flag in the Ship

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the primary sugar crop, accounting for over 85% of the sugar production in China. The sugarcane industry is of great importance in Guangxi Province, occupying 60% Chinese sugar supply and playing a key role in ensuring national sugar security. The selection of varieties is crucial for the success of sugarcane industry, with high-quality varieties making substantial contributions. Over the past two decades, the Sugarcane Research Institute of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SRI-GXAAS) pioneered the sugarcane breeding of “strong ratooning ability, high lodging resistance, and suitable for mechanization” and successfully bred the GT series of varieties, establishing the benchmark for sugarcane breeding in China. Among them, GT 42 and GT 44 are standout varieties in the fifth generation, with GT 42 emerging as the largest and GT 44 as the fifth most significant variety in China by 2023. This perspective delves into the unique role of the GT series in Chinese sugarcane breeding. It specifically discusses the selection of parents, breeding process, and characteristics of GT 42 and GT 44. We also explore the genetic basis for the elite agronomic traits at the transcription level. These above insights will lay a solid foundation for future advancements in the breeding of superior sugarcane varieties in China.